During the past few weeks, the UK has experienced its first SNOWFALLS of the winter. Most Bible events take place in Israel, where snowfall is uncommon; nevertheless, it does occur in higher parts of the country, including the city of Jerusalem. SNOW features on 24 occasions in the Bible (NKJV) and we will consider three of these in our meditations this week.

Firstly, I invite you to meet a man called BENAIAH, the son of Jehoiada – we learn that, ‘he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in THE TIME OF SNOW’, 2 Samuel chapter 23 verse 20. It appears on the surface to have been a simple act but a closer examination of his deed will lead us to see it in a different light. As it was a time of SNOW, all the evidence of the presence of the lion would have been hidden from view and it appears as if others were unaware of the danger. It would have been dangerous to scale the slippery sides of the pit. However, Benaiah shunned the danger and faced the battle in the midst of the pit and slew the lion!

It is a picture of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross at Calvary. Indeed, Satan is depicted as a lion in the Bible and, in order to deliver us from his power, Jesus went down into the deepest of all pits on the cross at Calvary. He died for our sins, was buried and rose again.

When most in Satan’s awful power, Thy suffering spirit seemed, O Lord;
Then, in that dark and fearful hour, our souls were by thy blood redeemed!

Although Satan was defeated at Calvary, he is currently still active. Peter reminds us: ‘Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith’, 1 Peter chapter 5 verses 8-9.